A Tamaqua man who admitted operating a mobile methamphetamine lab in a car found parked in a busy business and residential area of Hometown in March will serve six to 23 months in jail followed by two years of probation.

Justin D. Pakosky, 27, will begin his sentence at 9 a.m. Jan. 5. He’ll be eligible for immediate work release.Schuylkill County Judge Jacqueline Russell also ordered Pakosky to pay $2,035 to the state police crime lab in Bethlehem for the work it did on the case, and gave him credit for 17 days served.Pakosky told Russell he has been hooked on methamphetamine and heroin for nine years.“I’m still addicted, but not using,” he said.Russell questioned prosecutors about Pakosky’s plea agreement, which involved dropping charges of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver methamphetamine, possession of red phosphorus and other chemicals with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.She was especially concerned about dropping the manufacturing charge. Russell cited the gravity of the charge, saying Pakosky could face 36 to 54 months, a state prison term, on that charge.“I need some basis for that,” she said.Defense counsel Michael O’Pake said that because Pakosky was not near the car at the time, “it would be difficult to prove the allegation.”He assured Russell that all involved in the plea negotiation — himself, Assistant District Attorney Jen Lehman, and Rush Township Corporal Adam Sinton, were all on board with dropping the charge.The charges stemmed from March 24, when Sinton and Officer Lucas Fox at about 7 p.m. noticed what appeared to be an abandoned 1997 Honda CRV hatchback filling with smoke.The car was parked in the lot of the former HCS&K Tire along Claremont Avenue (Route 309) in Hometown, just a few feet from Route 309, in an area with fast food restaurants, convenience stores and other businesses.Thinking at first it was a car fire, they called Hometown Fire Company.Upon closer inspection, they discovered the components of a mobile meth lab.The Pennsylvania State Police Clandestine Lab Response Team arrived at 9 p.m.Pakosky was taken into custody after admitting he was responsible for parking the car.Bail was originally set at 10 percent of $50,000, but was modified on April 10 to 10 percent of $5,000, which Pakosky was able to post.